JP2000235469A - Network printer, network, and printing processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively use hardware resources and to speed up a printing process by inputting and outputting through a communication network, print data read out of and written to a print data storage means and drawing data read out of and written to a drawing data storage means. SOLUTION: A print data memory 2 stores print data sent from a host-side computer which has printed the data. A drawing process part 3 converts the print data generated by the host-side computer into drawing data and drives a mechanism which prints the drawing data. A drawing data memory 5 stores data for each page in format corresponding to respective print dots of an image. This drawing data memory 5 stores drawing data for one page or plural pages of print resolution for placing in operation a mechanism which actually prints the data on a form. Then a LAN interface 1 inputs and outputs the print data read out of and written to the print data memory 2 and the drawing data read out of and written to the drawing data memory 5 through a LAN line 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a network printer, a network, and a print processing method shared by a plurality of computers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the resolution and scanning accuracy of an engine mechanism (a mechanism for generating and scanning laser light) of a laser printer have been improved, and an extremely fine image can be printed.

[0003]

However, as the image becomes finer, the printer receives more data and generates the image. That is, drawing data for printing is generated inside the printer requested to perform the printing process, and this data is passed to the engine mechanism to perform printing on paper.

For this reason, actual printing cannot be started until the processing for generating the drawing data is completed. Therefore, it is necessary to stop the engine mechanism and wait for processing,
This has led to a decrease in throughput.

In many cases, a high-speed arithmetic unit for generating drawing data at high speed is mounted in order to improve throughput. However, in a printer, there are few situations where high-speed operation performance is required in addition to the creation of drawing data, and the operation device is a resource that is not used at all when printing is not performed.

The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and provides a network printer, a network, and a print processing method capable of effectively utilizing hardware resources and performing high-speed print processing. The purpose is.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network printer in which a plurality of network printers are connected to a specific area communication network. Print data storage means for storing print data sent via the communication network in the specific area, drawing processing means for converting the print data read from the print data storage means into drawing data for each page to be provided for printing, Drawing data storage means for storing the drawing data for each page, and print data read and written to the print data storage means and drawing data read and written to the drawing data storage means via the intra-specific area communication network Input / output means for inputting / outputting data. Claim 2
According to the invention described in (1), in the network printer according to (1), the input / output unit is configured to output the image data when the print data is input via the communication network within the specific area. Judging the conversion status by the image processing means based on the display signal, and when it is not possible to convert new print data by the image processing means, read out unprocessed print data from the print data storage means and The specific area communication network converts the drawing data converted by the image processing means included in the other network printer into image data by the image processing means included in the other network printer via the intra-specific area communication network. And writing at a corresponding position in the drawing data storage means. According to the invention described in claim 3, in the network printer described in claim 2, the input / output unit determines that the new image data cannot be converted by the image processing unit. Check the conversion status by the image processing means provided in each of one or more other network printers connected to the specific intra-area communication network via the specific intra-area communication network, and print data read from the print data storage means. Is transferred to image processing means provided in a network printer capable of converting new print data. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the network printer according to any one of the first to third aspects, the drawing data stored in the drawing data storage unit is printed for each page. And printing control means for controlling the printing means. In the invention according to claim 5,
(A) drawing processing means for converting input print data into drawing data for each page used for printing, and data temporary storage means for temporarily storing the print data and the drawing data as necessary A plurality of printers having input / output means for inputting / outputting the print data and the drawing data; and (b) sequentially storing the print data output by an information terminal for instructing printing, and It is characterized by being connected to a specific area storage means for storing the drawing data for each page converted by the drawing processing means included in any of the printers. Also, in the invention according to claim 6, in the network according to claim 5, the input / output means of each of the plurality of printers is based on a status display signal output by the image processing means. The conversion status by the image processing means is determined, and when new print data can be converted by the image processing means, the print data is read out from the storage means in the specific area and the print data is converted into drawing data. Then, the data is written in a corresponding position of the storage means in the specific area. Also, in the invention according to claim 7, in the network according to any one of claims 5 and 6, each of the plurality of printers includes the drawing device stored in the specific area storage unit. It is characterized by comprising printing means for printing data for each page, and printing control means for controlling the printing means. Further, in the invention according to claim 8, the print data sent via the communication network within the specific area is stored in the print data storage means, and the print data is read from the print data storage means and printed by the drawing processing means. A network printer that converts the drawing data for each page into drawing data storage means, and prints the drawing data stored in the drawing data storage means for each page. A print processing method,
When the print data is input via the communication network within the specific area, a conversion status by the image processing unit is determined based on a status display signal output by the image processing unit, and a new print is performed by the image processing unit. If the data cannot be converted, the unprocessed print data is read from the print data storage means and converted into drawing data by the image processing means of another network printer via the communication network within the specific area. Receiving the drawing data converted by the image processing means of the another network printer via the intra-specific area communication network, and writing the drawing data in a corresponding position of the drawing data storage means. According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the print processing method according to the eighth aspect, when the image processing unit determines that conversion of new print data is impossible, the communication within the specific area is performed. Checking the conversion status by the image processing means provided in each of one or more other network printers connected to the communication network within the specific area via the network;
The print data read from the print data storage means is transferred to an image processing means included in a network printer capable of converting new print data. In the invention according to claim 10, (a)
Each having drawing processing means for converting input print data into drawing data for each page to be provided for printing, and data temporary storage means for temporarily storing the print data and the drawing data as necessary; A plurality of printers including an input / output unit for inputting / outputting the print data and the drawing data, a printing unit for printing the drawing data for each page, and (b) an information terminal for instructing printing outputs. A print processing method in a network in which the print data is sequentially stored and a specific area storage unit that stores drawing data for each page converted by the drawing processing unit of any of the plurality of printers is connected. And the input / output of each of the plurality of printers based on a status display signal output by the image processing means. In the step, the conversion status by the image processing means is determined, and when new print data can be converted by the image processing means, the print data is read out from the storage device in the specific area and the print data is converted into drawing data. And writing the data in the corresponding position of the storage means in the specific area.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a network printer (printer portion of a network) according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment,
A plurality of printers 10 _-1 , 10 _-2 , 10 _-3 ... (Hereinafter simply referred to as printer 10 or printer 10 as needed)
10...) Are connected.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration example of the inside of the printer 10. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 2 denotes a print data memory. The print data memory 2 is a buffer for storing print data sent from a host computer (not shown, connected to the LAN line 20, the same applies hereinafter) that has executed printing. This print data is composed of a combination of figures.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a drawing processing unit, which converts print data generated by the host computer into drawing data.
With this drawing data, a printing mechanism (a printer engine unit 7 described later, the same applies hereinafter) is driven.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a drawing data memory, which is a buffer memory for storing data for each page in a format corresponding to the printing dot of each point of the image. The drawing data memory 5 stores drawing data for one page or a plurality of pages of a printing resolution for moving a mechanism for actually printing on paper.

The above-described drawing processing unit 3 reads the print data from the print data memory 2, performs a conversion process for each page, and stores the generated drawing data in the drawing data memory 5.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an engine controller which controls the printing position of the printer engine unit 7 based on drawing data read from the drawing data memory 5. That is, the original data for controlling the printer engine unit 7 is read from the drawing data memory 5 by the engine controller 6. The engine controller 6 causes the printer engine unit 7 to execute an operation of coloring at a density corresponding to the paper position determined by the drawing data.

The printer engine unit 7 includes a laser exciter, a mirror for scanning laser light, a motor for driving the mirror, and the like, and can change the color tone at an arbitrary position on the paper at an arbitrary gradation. is there. The operation of the printer engine unit 7 is determined by the engine controller 6, and actual printing on paper is performed.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a LAN interface connected to the LAN line 20. This LAN interface 1
Is a section for exchanging data bidirectionally with a host computer or another printer 10 existing on the LAN line 20.

The LAN interface 1 has a function of monitoring the processing state of the drawing processing unit 3 and responding to the state confirmation from another apparatus on the LAN line 20.

The specific operation of the LAN interface 1 is as follows. The print data sent from the host computer in response to the print request is received, and the print data is stored in the print data memory 2.

[0018] At this time, monitors the status signal S ₄ for outputting the drawing processing unit 3, when the drawing processing unit 3 can not accept new data for being processed, stored in one print data memory 2 The print data is transferred to other printers 10, 10,... Connected to the LAN line 20.

The same applies to the drawing data memory 5, and the other printers 10, 10...
Data to the other printers 10, 10
Receive data from.

The above is an example of the printer 1 shown in FIG.
0 _-1 Configuration of being described, other printer 1
0 _-2, since configuration also _10-3 ... are the same, the illustration and description thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, the overall operation of the printer _10-1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described as an example. The print data transmitted by the host computer is received by the LAN interface 1 and stored in the print data memory 2.

[0022] written print data in the print data memory 2, the drawing processing unit 3 starts the conversion process to the drawing data, that the status signal S ₄ is LAN interface 1 illustrating the drawing processing unit 3 is being processed Supplied. At this time, the drawing data converted by the drawing processing unit 3 is stored in the drawing data memory 5 page by page.

When the drawable data is written into the drawing data memory 5, the engine controller 6 reads it out and gives an operation instruction to the printer engine unit 7 along with the drawing data. The printer engine unit 7 is driven under the control of the engine controller 6 and gives a gradation expression to a sheet.

The printer _10-1 during such a processing operation
, The status signal S ₄ output by the drawing processing unit 3
The LAN interface 1 recognizes that the drawing processing unit 3 is in the process of printing based on the print data of the next page being processed by the drawing processing unit 3 out of the print data received from the host computer. LA from extraction, a printer _{10 -2} on the LAN line 20
Transfer to N interface 1.

When the LAN interface 1 transfers the print data to the other printers 10, 10,... On the LAN line 20, the LAN interface 1 requires L separately from the print data for printing.
The processing status of the destination printers 10, 10,... Is confirmed by the AN communication, and the printer 10 which has no processing available is selected and transferred.

That is, the destination printer 10 is not limited to a single printer. The printers 10, 10... Existing on the same LAN line 20 are detected by LAN communication, and the processing status is monitored mutually to print data. Is performed.

The LAN interface 1 from the LAN interface 1 of the printer _{10 -1} printer _10-2
The print data transferred to the printer 10 is transmitted to the printer 10 as described above.
_-2 stored in the print data memory 2 in the drawing processing unit 3
After that, it is stored in the drawing data memory 5.

The drawing data generated by processing the transferred print data, before being sent to the engine controller 6 of the printer _10-2, drawn from the drawing data memory 5 by the LAN interface 1 of the printer 10 in the _-2 It is transmitted to the LAN interface the printer 1 of the printer _{10 -1.}

The LAN interface 1 of the printer _{10 -1} that has received the drawing data processed by the printer _{10 -2,} the drawing data memory 5, the printer 10
The drawing data processed by the printer _10-2 is arranged next to the drawing data of the previous page processed in _-1 .

At this time, the LAN interface 1 manages the order of the drawing data written in the drawing data memory 5 so that the printing order is not disturbed by the transfer processing of the drawing data. Specifically, the print data read from the print data memory 2 of the printer 10 _-1 assigned the address of the serial numbers regardless of destination, also to secure a region corresponding to this serial number address in the drawing data memory 5 .

The printers 10 _-1 , 10 _-2 , 10 _-3.
Each of the drawing processing units 3 performs a conversion process into drawing data with this address attached. When writing the drawing data again into the drawing data memory 5 of the printer _10-1 , the drawing data is written to the corresponding address in the area.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the conversion process to the drawing data is sequentially advanced using the drawing processing unit in another printer, and the time is shortened by parallelizing the processes. In this case, processing is performed in parallel for the number of printers that have been processed on the LAN line, and if all printers are processing individual print data, printing is performed as a single printer without transfer. Execute the process.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the printer connected to the LAN line 20 described above. FIG.
Printer 10a has no data memory, and the LAN interface 1a has a buffer memory 11. In this example, although not shown, a network data memory for a network printer is connected to the LAN line 20 independently.

In this example, the drawing processing unit 3 and the engine controller 6 are connected via the LAN interface 1 to L
The network data memory on the AN line 20 is used. That is, the print data from the host computer is sent to the common network data memory in a lump, and the printer having no processing sequentially reads out the print data from the network data memory and processes the same, and again renders the processed drawing data again. Write to network data memory.

Then, the engine controller 6 of the printer to which the print instruction has been issued reads out the drawing data from the network data memory, and the printer engine unit 7 executes the printing process.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, when print data is input via a communication network within a specific area, the image processing means performs processing based on a status display signal output by the image processing means. Judgment of the conversion status, if conversion of new print data by the image processing means is not possible, read out the unprocessed print data from the print data storage means and allow other network printers to communicate via the specific area communication network. The image data is converted into drawing data by the provided image processing means, and the drawing data converted by the image processing means of another network printer is received via the intra-specific-area communication network and written into a corresponding position of the drawing data storage means. If the image processing means determines that the new print data cannot be converted, each of the one or more other network printers connected to the specific intra-region communication network via the specific intra-region communication network is provided. The print data read from the print data storage means is transferred to an image processing means provided in a network printer capable of converting new print data. In addition, when the conversion status of the image processing unit is determined by the input / output unit of each of the plurality of printers based on the status display signal output by the image processing unit, and the image processing unit can convert new print data. Read the print data from the storage device in the specific area, convert the print data into drawing data, and write it to the corresponding position in the storage device in the specific area, so that the hardware resources are effectively used and the printing process is performed at high speed. An advantage is obtained that a network printer, a network, and a print processing method that can perform the processing can be realized.

That is, according to the present invention, during the printing of the previous page, the generation of the drawing data necessary for the printing of the next page is completed by the distributed processing, and the printing of the next page apparently takes a time to generate the drawing data. Disappears. Therefore, the time until the sheet is discharged can be made closer to the printing performance of the engine mechanism of the printer device.

Further, since the engine mechanism and the processing of the drawing data are completely separated and the distributed processing is performed, even if printing is performed on a printer with a low processing performance, the processing capability of a printer with a high processing performance can be utilized. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network printer (printer portion of a network) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example in a printer.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating another configuration example of the printer connected to the LAN line 20;

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1a LAN interface (input / output means) 2 print data memory (print data storage means) 3 drawing processing unit (drawing processing means) 5 drawing data memory (drawing data storage means) 6 engine controller (print control means) 7 printer engine part (printing means) _{10, 10 -1,} 10 _{-2, 10} -3 ... printer (network printer) 10a printer 11 buffer memory (data temporary memory means) 20 LAN line (specific area communication network) _{S 4} status Signal (status display signal)

Claims (10)

[Claims] A plurality of network printers connected to a specific area communication network, each of which stores print data sent through the specific area communication network; ), Drawing processing means (3) for converting the print data read from the print data storage means into drawing data for each page to be printed, and drawing data storage means (5) for storing the drawing data for each page And input / output means (1) for inputting / outputting print data read / written to / from the print data storage means and drawing data read / written to / from the drawing data storage means via the communication network within the specific area. A network printer, characterized in that: 2. The image processing device according to claim 2, wherein the input / output unit receives the print data via the communication network within the specific area and outputs the print data based on a status display signal (S ₄ ) output by the image processing unit. Judging the conversion status, and when it is not possible to convert new print data by the image processing means, read out the unprocessed print data from the print data storage means and execute another print data via the specific area communication network. The drawing data is converted by the image processing means of the network printer into drawing data, the drawing data converted by the image processing means of the other network printer is received via the communication network within the specific area, and the drawing data storage means is received. 2. The network printer according to claim 1, wherein the data is written to a corresponding position of the network printer. 3. When the input / output unit determines that the new image data cannot be converted by the image processing unit, the input / output unit connects to the specific area communication network via the specific area communication network. An image processing means included in a network printer capable of converting the print data read from the print data storage means into new print data by checking the conversion status of the image processing means included in each of the one or more network printers. 3. The network printer according to claim 2, wherein the data is transferred to a network printer. 4. A printing means (7) for printing the drawing data stored in the drawing data storage means for each page.
The network printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: printing control means (6) for controlling the printing means. And (a) drawing processing means for converting input print data into drawing data for each page to be printed, and temporarily storing the printing data and the drawing data as necessary. Data temporary storage means (1
A plurality of printers (10a) having an input / output means (1a) for inputting and outputting the print data and the drawing data; and (b) the print data output by an information terminal for instructing printing. And a storage unit in a specific area for storing drawing data for each page converted by the drawing processing unit of any one of the plurality of printers. 6. The input / output unit of each of the plurality of printers determines a conversion state by the image processing unit based on a status display signal output by the image processing unit. When the conversion of the print data is possible, the print data is read from the storage device in the specific area, and the print data is converted into drawing data and written in a corresponding position of the storage device in the specific area. The network of claim 5, wherein 7. Each of the plurality of printers includes: a printing unit that prints the drawing data stored in the specific area storage unit for each page; and a print control unit that controls the printing unit. The network according to claim 5 or 6, wherein 8. Print data transmitted via a communication network within a specific area is stored in a print data storage means, and the print data is read from the print data storage means to be rendered by a rendering processing means into rendering data for each page. And storing the drawing data for each page in a drawing data storage unit,
A network printer (10, 1) for printing the drawing data stored in the drawing data storage means for each page;
0 _-1 , 10 _-2 , 10 _-3 ...), Wherein the status display output by the image processing means when the print data is input via the communication network within the specific area. Judging the conversion status by the image processing means on the basis of the signal, and when it is impossible to convert new print data by the image processing means, reads out the unprocessed print data from the print data storage means and performs the identification. Through the intra-area communication network, the image data is converted into drawing data by the image processing means of another network printer, and the drawing data converted by the image processing means of the other network printer is transmitted to the specific intra-area communication network. A print processing method for receiving the print data via the print data and writing the print data in a corresponding position of the drawing data storage means. 9. When the image processing unit determines that conversion of new print data is impossible, at least one of the other ones connected to the specific area communication network via the specific area communication network is determined. Check the conversion status by the image processing means of each of the network printers, and transfer the print data read from the print data storage means to the image processing means of the network printer capable of converting new print data. The print processing method according to claim 8, wherein: 10. A drawing processing means for converting input print data into drawing data for each page used for printing, and temporarily storing the printing data and the drawing data as required. A plurality of printers having data temporary storage means for performing the printing and the drawing data, and input / output means for inputting / outputting the drawing data, and printing means for printing the drawing data for each page; Connected to a specific area storage means for sequentially storing the print data output by the information terminal for instructing the drawing processing and storing the drawing data for each page converted by the drawing processing means of any of the plurality of printers. A print processing method in a network, wherein the plurality of printers are controlled based on a status display signal output by the image processing unit. The input / output unit of each has a conversion status determined by the image processing unit, and if the image processing unit can convert new print data, the print data is read from the storage unit in the specific area. A print processing method comprising: converting the print data into drawing data; and writing the converted data in a corresponding position of the storage device in the specific area.